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Luis Garcia Jr. Could Play Second and/or Third Base in 2027
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that first baseman Luis Garcia Jr. could spend time at second base and possibly even third base in 2027, per the Talkin' Yanks podcast. Garcia Jr. appeared exclusively at first base and designated hitter in 2026. He has previous experience at second, but he graded out as one of the worst defenders at the position in the sport in 2025. Still, New York has a potential logjam at first base/DH between Garcia Jr., Ben Rice, and Giancarlo Stanton. The Yankees could also lose incumbent second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. to free agency over the offseason. Garcia Jr. had a breakout year at the plate in 2026, slashing .277/.309/.521 with 30 home runs, 92 RBI, 69 runs scored, and five stolen bases across 543 plate appearances split between the Yankees and the Washington Nationals. If he does regain positional eligibility at second base, his value for fantasy managers would only be improved.
Source: Talkin' Yanks
Source: Talkin' Yanks
Brian Cashman Agrees to New Contract With Yankees
New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that he agreed to a new contract with the team, with a deal pending final language, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. "We're locked and loaded," Cashman said. The 59-year-old will continue in the job that he has held since 1998. The Yankees have won four World Series championships and 15 American League East titles under Cashman, but they have reached the World Series just once (2024) since winning their 27th title in 2009. The 17-year drought is the second-longest in franchise history, and the team's 13 straight playoff appearances without a World Series title is tied for the fourth-longest streak in MLB postseason history. The Yankees went 93-68 in 2026 -- the team's third straight 90-win season -- but they were swept in the American League Division Series by the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays after taking two from the division-rival Boston Red Sox to win the Wild-Card Series. Manager Aaron Boone will also return as the skipper of the Bronx Bombers in 2027.
Source: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
Source: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
Aaron Boone Will Return as Yankees' Manager
Aaron Boone will return as the New York Yankees' manager for the 2027 season, a source confirmed to ESPN's Jorge Castillo. Boone will be returning to the Bronx for his 10th season as the skipper, with the news coming more than a week after the team was eliminated in the American League Division Series by the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays in a three-game sweep. The Yankees have now been eliminated in the ALDS in two straight seasons. His contract runs through next season to complete a two-year, $10.5 million extension that he signed with the Yankees in February of 2025. Boone's .583 winning percentage is tied for 17th in major-league history, and the Yankees have reached the playoffs in eight of his nine seasons while not finishing worse than two games over .500. It has extended the franchise's MLB-record streak of 34 straight winning seasons. However, they have not won a World Series since Joe Girardi led them to the title in 2009. The 17-year drought is the second-longest in franchise history. The Yankees are tied for the fourth-longest streak in MLB postseason history with 13 straight playoff appearances without a World Series title. In Boone's only World Series appearance with the Yankees in 2024, the Yankees lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games.
Source: ESPN.com - Jorge Castillo
Source: ESPN.com - Jorge Castillo
Yankees Could Look to Trade Luis Garcia Jr.?
New York Yankees first baseman Luis Garcia Jr. could be a trade candidate this offseason, speculates Joel Sherman of The New York Post. The Yankees acquired Garcia Jr. from the Washington Nationals at the 2026 trade deadline. The 26-year-old had a breakout season in 2026, hitting .277/.309/.521 with 30 home runs, 92 RBI, 69 runs scored, and five stolen bases across 543 plate appearances split between New York and Washington. However, the Yankees have a potential logjam between first base and designated hitter. Ben Rice is locked into one of the two spots, and New York may look to deploy oft-injured outfielders Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge at DH more frequently in 2027. Sherman reports that the Arizona Diamondbacks were also in on Garcia Jr. at the trade deadline and could be potential trade partners for the Yankees over the winter.
Source: New York Post - Joel Sherman
Source: New York Post - Joel Sherman
Paul Goldschmidt Wants to Keep Playing in 2027
New York Yankees impending free-agent first baseman/designated hitter Paul Goldschmidt has expressed a desire to keep playing at age 39 in 2027, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. It is unclear if the Yankees will make an effort to re-sign the former MVP and seven-time All-Star in the offseason. Goldy had a nice bounce-back campaign in 2026 in his 16th year in the big leagues after he hit just 10 homers and drove in 45 runs in 146 games in 2025 in his first year in pinstripes. In 105 regular-season games across 380 plate appearances this year, Goldschmidt hit .252/.313/.452 with a .765 OPS, 18 home runs, 52 RBI, and 44 runs scored for the Yankees. He went hitless in eight plate appearances with two walks and a run scored in four postseason games for New York this year. Goldschmidt is obviously no longer in his prime and is no longer an everyday player, but he should still attract interest across the league for his ability to hit lefties. In 183 plate appearances against southpaws in 2026, he hit .299 (47-for-157) with 11 of his 18 home runs and 24 RBI.
Source: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
Source: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
Ben Rice Goes Off in Game 1 Wild-Card Win Over Boston
New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice continued to feast on fastballs in the 9-0 win over the division-rival Boston Red Sox in Game 1 of the Wild-Card Series on Tuesday, going 4-for-5 at the plate with two home runs and six RBI as the designated hitter. The game was already well in hand late when Rice hit a grand slam in the eighth inning off right-hander Brayan Bello. The 27-year-old continued his breakout 2026 campaign into the start of the postseason and, for one night, made Yankees fans forget that three-time MVP Aaron Judge (calf) was not included on the Wild-Card roster. In just his second big-league season, Rice was a first-time All-Star and finished the regular season with a .264/.363/.534 slash line with an .897 OPS, 41 home runs, 97 RBI, 105 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 154 games and 667 plate appearances as one of the best power hitters in baseball this year. Rice will look to continue mashing the baseball on Tuesday as the Yankees look to end the three-game series quickly when they face veteran right-hander Sonny Gray at Yankee Stadium.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Ben Rice Showing Signs of Life Amidst Second-Half Slump
New York Yankees catcher/first baseman Ben Rice has had an incredible third season in the big leagues (second full season) in 2026, slashing .251/.350/.529 with an .878 OPS, a career-high 35 home runs, 83 RBI, 83 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 127 games played across 546 plate appearances. The 27-year-old left-handed slugger went 1-for-2 at the plate with his 35th homer of the year, three runs scored, and three RBI in Wednesday's 9-3 win over the Houston Astros in the Bronx, and he now has three home runs in his last nine games. Only Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez has more home runs than Rice in the American League. Although Rice has heated up of late, overall in August he has struggled, going 12-for-77 (.156) with a .633 OPS, four home runs, a double, 10 RBI, 13 runs scored, a stolen base, 15 walks, and 25 strikeouts. Since the All-Star break, he is slashing only .179/.295/.351 with a .646 OPS, six home runs, five doubles, 15 RBI, 19 runs scored, one steal, 20 walks, and 45 strikeouts in 36 games and 156 plate appearances. Fantasy managers who have reaped the benefits of Rice's 2026 breakout should not be selling now.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Yankees Acquire Luis Garcia Jr. From the Nationals
The New York Yankees are acquiring infielder Luis Garcia Jr. from the Washington Nationals on Sunday, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. Per Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic, the Nationals will receive right-handers Ben Grable, Yovanny Cruz, Jack Cebert, and Jake Bird. The 26-year-old left-handed hitter leads the National League with a .560 slugging percentage and is hitting .283/.313/.560 with 23 home runs on the year. He's also under club control through the end of the 2027 season. Garcia is a bit of an odd fit for the Yanks, who were believed to be seeking a right-handed bat at the trade deadline this year. Not only does he hit from the left side, but he's been playing first base, where New York is already set with Ben Rice and Paul Goldschmidt. However, the Yankees still have Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Giancarlo Stanton on the injured list, and they've scored the fifth-fewest runs since Judge got hurt. Garcia will most likely split time at DH (until the Yankees get healthier) and second base, but he could continue to be shielded against left-handed pitchers (he has only 57 plate appearances against them in 2026).
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
Ben Rice Getting Back on Track, Clubs Two Homers on Thursday
New York Yankees catcher/first baseman Ben Rice is heating up once again as we near the end of the first half of the 2026 season. In Thursday's 12-4 win over the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field, Rice went 2-for-4 at the plate with two home runs, a season-high five RBI, three runs scored, a walk, and a strikeout as the team's designated hitter. The 27-year-old left-handed slugger delivered his first multi-homer game of the year and the fourth of his career. Rice hit under the Mendoza Line in June, but he already has five home runs and 11 RBI in his 29 at-bats so far in July to raise his season slash line to .275/.366/.590. Rice has added 28 home runs, 65 RBI, and 63 runs scored in his 377 plate appearances in just his second full season in the Bronx. He has proven his breakout in 2025 was no fluke, setting a new career high in long balls in the first half of the season after hitting 26 homers and driving in 65 runs in 138 regular-season games in 2025. Under the hood, Rice ranks in the 79th percentile in hard-hit rate, the 90th percentile in barrel rate, the 91st percentile in xwOBA, and the 88th percentile in xOBP, backing surface stats.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Ben Rice to Participate in Home Run Derby
New York Yankees first baseman/catcher Ben Rice will participate in this year's Home Run Derby during the All-Star break on Monday, July 13, according to MLB Communications. Rice will try to give the Yankees a record fifth Home Run Derby winner alongside Tino Martinez (1997), Jason Giambi (2002), Robinson Cano (2011), and Aaron Judge (2017). The only other known participant for this year's Derby in the American League is Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero. After breaking out in 2025 in his first full major-league season by hitting 26 home runs and driving in 65 in 138 regular-season games, Rice has backed up the breakout with another phenomenal season, slashing .267/.360/.565 with a .925 OPS, 25 home runs, 57 RBI, 59 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 85 games across 364 plate appearances. The 27-year-old former 12th-rounder in 2021 out of Dartmouth College is proving to be the real deal, but he has been on a skid at the plate since June 22, going 7-for-52 (.135) with three homers, four RBI, four runs, four walks, and 15 strikeouts in his last 14 games over 57 plate appearances.
Source: MLB Communications
Source: MLB Communications
Is Paul Goldschmidt Still a Waiver-Wire Priority Amidst Current Slump?
New York Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt has emerged as a key piece of his team's lineup in 2026, hitting .266/.325/.505 with 14 home runs, 41 RBI, 31 runs scored, and one stolen base across 243 plate appearances. The 38-year-old has cooled off in recent weeks after a red-hot June, as he's currently hitless in his last 27 plate appearances. Still, Goldschmidt owns a strong 11.7% barrel rate and should continue to see regular playing time in New York with both Giancarlo Stanton (calf) and Aaron Judge (ribs) currently sidelined by injury. Goldschmidt has also mashed left-handed pitching to a 1.162 OPS so far this season, so he has a clear use case for fantasy managers. Even amidst his current slump, Goldschmidt is a worthwhile waiver wire target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Paul Goldschmidt Remains a Must-Add Waiver-Wire Target
New York Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt has had a resurgent 2026 season thus far, hitting .291/.353/.552 with 14 home runs, 40 RBI, 31 runs scored, and one stolen base across 224 plate appearances. The 38-year-old was expected to fill a bench role with the Yankees entering the year, but injuries to Yankees sluggers Giancarlo Stanton (calf) and Aaron Judge (ribs) have opened up everyday playing time for Goldschmidt. The future Hall of Famer's barrel rate has bounced back from 7.9% in 2025 to 11.9% in 2026. He's also gotten stronger as the season's progressed, hitting .326 with eight home runs across eight home runs in June. Once Stanton returns, Goldschmidt could see his playing time decrease. However, Stanton's recovery timeline remains uncertain, and Goldschmidt has given the Yankees little reason to go in another direction. In any fantasy league where he's not already rostered, Goldschmidt profiles as a must-add waiver wire target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Should Fantasy Managers Explore Selling High on Cody Bellinger?
New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger has been a consistent force in the middle of his team's lineup in 2026, hitting .267/.365/.458 with 11 home runs, 49 RBI, 46 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases across 340 plate appearances. The 30-year-old's plate approach has been elite, as he's recorded more walks (47) than strikeouts (46). While Bellinger may not provide high-end value in any one fantasy category, he has shown the ability to produce at an above-average rate across the board. However, fantasy managers may still have reason to explore selling high on Bellinger. The veteran outfielder's underlying contact metrics remain underwhelming, as he's logged a 7.8% barrel rate and 36.7% hard-hit rate. Perhaps more importantly, Bellinger has a spotty health track record that should not be ignored. Across five seasons entering 2026, Bellinger had reached 600 plate appearances just once. With his value potentially at its peak, Bellinger could generate a significant haul for fantasy managers in a trade.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Paul Goldschmidt Continues Resurgent Season, Homers Off Tigers Ace Twice
New York Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt certainly hasn't looked like an aging slugger in the Bronx in 2026. Goldschmidt had an impressive showing in Wednesday night's 4-2 win over the hosting Detroit Tigers, going 2-for-4 at the plate with two solo home runs off two-time Cy Young left-hander Tarik Skubal. It continues a theme of the former MVP victimizing left-handed pitchers. In his career against Skubal, Goldy is now 7-for-13 with four home runs. The 38-year-old former eighth-round pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2009 out of Texas State University is now slashing .297/.355/.568 with 14 home runs, 39 RBI, and 30 runs scored in his 211 plate appearances in 2026 in his second year in New York and 16th total MLB season. With an expected batting average of .259 and an xwOBA of .342 (currently .384), it appears the seven-time All-Star could be hitting above his skis currently, but he should probably be rostered in more than 38% of Yahoo leagues. Fantasy managers need to ride the wave while it lasts.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Is Paul Goldschmidt a Must-Add First Baseman Amid Resurgent Campaign?
New York Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt opened the 2026 season in a part-time role, logging just 33 plate appearances through the end of April. However, a late-April injury to Yankees designated hitter/outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (calf) opened the door for Goldschmidt and Yankees first baseman Ben Rice to both log everyday playing time. The veteran Goldschmidt has taken full advantage of the opportunity, hitting .293/.355/.543 with 12 home runs, 37 RBI, 27 runs scored, and one stolen base across 203 plate appearances. His barrel rate, which dipped to 7.9% in 2025, is back up to 11.7% this season. He's also remained absolutely dominant against left-handed pitching, posting a 1.222 OPS across 85 plate appearances versus southpaws. Goldschmidt's playing time could take a hit once Stanton is healthy. Still, Stanton is currently without a firm return timeline, and Goldschmidt has been too good for the Yankees to fully remove him from his current role. At least until Stanton returns, Goldschmidt should be viewed as a must-start first baseman by fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
